MPs must use public healthcare. People need solidarity - Action SA MP

Lester Kiewit speaks with Dr Kgosi Letlape, Action SA MP

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

Our public healthcare system is not at the state we need it to be with many hospitals overcrowded and underfunded.

However, people at different levels of government are unaffected by this because they make use of private healthcare.

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Letlape has made a bold call for government workers, including members of the judiciary and all MPs, to use out public healthcare system as a way to ‘lead from the top.’

He says that if we want to show society which way we need to go, we need to use our resources properly and have government show by example that public healthcare is fit for purpose.

8.5% of our GDP is spent on healthcare, so he says it is clear that money is not the problem.

“As human beings we run by self-interest and if our interests are not aligned with the interests of society, we get these disparities.”

- Dr Kgosi Letlape, Action SA MP

“If this country is going to work, we need to stop othering others. When we talk about the people, we are not talking about ourselves.”

- Dr Kgosi Letlape, Action SA MP

He adds that it is compulsory for members of parliament to be on the parliamentary medical aid, which he thinks should be done away with.

“I have no issue with choice. But let it not be preferential arrangements to protect privilege based on the law.”

- Dr Kgosi Letlape, Action SA MP

Letlape says government cannot do proper oversight to something they do not enjoy, and need to band together with the people of the country to build a better society.

“What people need is solidarity, not pity.”

- Dr Kgosi Letlape, Action SA MP

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.